Katabasis

By Paul Parker

A couple years ago, my parents gave me the privilege to use my family’s seventeen-foot boat after I passed my boater exam. The boat gave me a huge sense of freedom. I was able to go practically wherever I wanted to go and do whatever I wanted on the water. Whether it was pulling friends on the inter-tube, boating a couple of miles offshore to catch fish, or, in more simpler terms, getting away from reality, I cherished my boat and everything that came along with it.

            It wasn’t till this past summer when I made a thoughtless decision that cost me my boat privilege and my status. On the regrettable night, I drove my boat with some of my buddies to a party on Figure Eight Island, and I chose to ignore my parents' curfew and instead came back hours late. And just like that, I lost it all.

            No longer having access to the boat keys profoundly impacted me. I realized that the boat was one thing, but my status of having and using the boat was another thing. After my parents made it clear that I wasn’t going to be able to use the boat for the rest of summer, I was put back into my childhood days. Seventeen years young and desperate for freedom, I felt like I was thirteen years old again. I lost the amazing feeling of being on top of the world. I also wasn’t able to see certain friends anymore, nor was I able to go fishing. I wasn’t the person anymore that I used to be. Rather than picking up girls and friends to go on boat-cruises, I was doing yard-work and other chores so I could re-gain the trust I once had. For the most part, that’s how I spent most of my summer days.

            After spending my summer days doing harsh chores and being on my very best behavior, I gained my privilege of using the boat back, my status that I had dearly missed, and had also gained some wisdom along the road of ashes. Ultimately, I learned to think about the consequences of my ideas before I do anything. Needless to say, I’ve managed to stay out of trouble ever since.